I am going to chime in on this one, and would suggest that unless you have actually seen or tried one of Howie's full-length kilts, you should not criticise them so vehemently.

Firstly, they are not new. Howie came up with the idea at least four years ago and made himself one in black imitation leather exclusively for wear when clubbing - not for day wear. He looked a million dollars in that kilt and even persuaded me to try it on to see how it felt. The feeling was amazing, but I believe that was down to the 'behaviour' of the material - the photos in the TFCK Catalogue and on their website show these kilts in other fabrics/materials which look, to me, as though they are not 'behaving' well. As I say, the sensation of wearing that first kilt was stunning but, when I saw my reflection in a full-length mirror I quickly realised that this style was suited only to slim young men, such as Howie, and not to ageing, full-bodied, middle-aged men, such as myself.

Howie does not, I am sure, see the full-length kilt as the way contemporary kilts are going, or should go - his aim is to show prospective clients what can be done with the kilt, especially with regard to fabrics and materials and, to some extent, with styling..... although, without doubt Howie's TFCK kilts are basically constructed along the lines of the traditional kilt, and are tailored by fully-qualified kiltmakers in Geoffrey (Tailor)'s workrooms. They are certainly far closer to the traditonal kilt than any other maker of contemporary kilts to my knowledge, has produced.

I would agree with most comments expressed here that the kilt should be a knee-length garment (on or fractionally above - but not below), however, for the purpose for which Howie designed his imitation leather kilt - for clubbing - it is probably admirable (moreso on the lithe body of a twenty-something!).

Although I can be as much a 'traditionalist' as the next man (in fact, I have just ordered two more 'tanks' [ugggh! Sorry it's that word!] and a fourth Argyll jacket), I also encourage and will do all I can to promote the development of the kilt. Our beloved kilt has been evolving for a couple of hundred years (some would say much longer), so who are we to put a stop to that evolvement? It MUST be allowed to move forward or the kilt will, without a doubt, stagnate and slip back to becoming just another National Costume to be dragged out if its mothballs for special occasions. I embrace all variations on the kilt - I may not like them all and some I would never wear - but I am overjoyed to know that 'different' kilts, perhaps for particular locations or events, are being created and made available to an increasingly eager and widening consumer base.

Come on, Lads. Live and let live. Let's not be "old fuddy-duddies"! I will be 70 in a couple of months and that, I hope, is a title that could never be given to me. In fact, to celebrate, I'm having another kilt tailored - in snakeskin!